Senator Bong Go urged the government to include all indigent senior citizens in the social pension program despite current budget allocations during the Sept. 1 Development Budget Coordination Committee briefing.
He highlighted that while P49.8 billion has been allocated to benefit four million seniors this year, over 800,000 remain on the waiting list.
Go, co-author of the law that doubled the pension from P500 to P1,000, questioned why these seniors have yet to receive aid.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman explained that funding corresponds only to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) submitted request, which still requires updates.
Go stressed the urgency of addressing the unserved seniors and inquired about possible alternative funding to prioritize them.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 6, 2025
